QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (third from right) and QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boanain (right) are seen with the winners of the Ad Dibal Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURE: Juhaim.
Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya’s Al Rayyan Al Sakab sported a pair of wings while storming home to a wonderful victory in the Ad Dibal Cup, a local Thoroughbred Conditions race, which featured the nine-event card at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
In a fairly fast run race, it was Al Mazrooah who used her initial speed to skip clear of Baaria, Al Rayyan Al Sakab and Al Mansoor. The nine runners were within five lengths of each other, as they entered the home stretch. Pier Convertino nudged Baaria while overtaking a tired Al Mazrooah, and got the first run on the rails.
Al Rayyan Al Sakab quickly moved up to be in touch with the new leader. Once alerted to the task on hand by its jockey Marvin Suerland, Al Rayyan Al Sakab grabbed the initiative and sailed past Baaria to take her seventh win in 16 starts.
Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya trained Bin Amer (Amer-Ismala) performed on expected lines and cantered away with Pure Arabian Conditions event, which was the Championship race for Fegentri Gentleman Riders.
With German jockey Dennis Schiergen on the saddle, Bin Amer settled in third place as Al Jeali set a scorching pace for the six furlong trip.
As the 10-horse field began approaching the home turn, Schiergen was totally unperturbed and he had Bin Amer on a tight leash. American rider Kevin Tobin tried his best to wrest the initiative astride Harran, but the Julian Smart trainee was finding it tough to do so.
At just about the same juncture, Bin Amer appeared towards the inner rails and it was clearly visible that the Attiya ward was the best moving runner in this race. Bin Amer increased the momentum and strode clear Harran and a tired Al Jeali.
Speaking to the Gulf Times, Schiergen expressed his delight with the victory in Qatar. “I had a perfect race and I did what the trainer told me to do. Bin Amer was simply brilliant today and gave me an easy ride. He is a great horse and I am glad that I had the opportunity to ride him. This is my first visit to Qatar and it is a very special place for me. I am looking forward to coming back here next year.”
“We are very happy and proud to have had the final here in Qatar. There were two brilliant races this weekend. Schiergen is a fantastic jockey and he did very well today. We will be back for the international weekend in February with the Fegenri lady and gentleman riders. All of them are eager to return here as this is such a wonderful place with brilliant facilities,” president of Fegentri Nathalie Belinguier said.
British jockey Freddie Mitchell with 154 points won the Fegentri championship, while France’s Alexandre Lemaire (120) and Italian Fabrizo Perego (114) took the second and third place.
Ahmed Kobeissi schooled TM Reagan Bret (Burning Sand-Bint Chezi) shed her maiden status by winning the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate in splendid fashion.
This daughter of Burning Sand showed great maturity by producing a nice turn of foot in the final furlong of this scurry. Being ridden out hands-n-heels, by jockey Salim Golam, TM Reagan Bret powered away to win impressively from Madeaa and Sihmoos. Now that she has found her winning rhythm, the Kobeissi trainee can be expected to move up the ladder.
A very close finish was witnessed in the six furlong Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Qatari rider Yousef al-Hajri in his trade mark fashion took Dahab Gold on a start to finish mission, while Court Life and Roman Legend were travelling a few lengths behind the front runner.
Dahab Gold raised hopes of a victory by going ahead in the straight. He led comfortably into the final furlong before coming under pressure.
He suddenly shortened his strides and allowed Court Life and Roman Legend to get the better of him near the finishing line. Roman Legend (Gerald Avranche up) came with a flourish in the dying stages of the race, but was unable to get past Court Life who held on gamely to take his first win in three starts. Jockey Darren Williams did an excellent job on the winner.
In the day’s other action, Zohair Moghsen saddled Beach Club recorded a runaway victory in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate, while Julian Smart’s Fiha was ably ridden by Richard Mullen to a fluent win in the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate.
RESULTS
1st race: Bin Amer (Dennis Schiergen) 1, Harran 2, Al Jeali 3, AlAdaid 4. Won by: 8, Shd, 1. Time: 1:17.68. Trained by: Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Hamad bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Attiya
2nd race: TM Reagan Bret (Salim Golam) 1, Madeaa 2, Sihmoos 3, Nakhwat Al Arab 4. Won by: 7, Nk, Shd. Time: 1:04.55. Trained by: Ahmed Kobeissi. Owned by: Mohammed Kazim Al Ansari and Sons
3rd race: Court Life (Darren Williams) 1, Roman Legend 2, Dahab Gold 3, Rose Gloria 4. Won by: Shd, 1, 1 ½. Time: 1:11.97. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Mubarak Saeed al-Naimi
4th race: Fiha (Richard Mullen) 1, Viy’al Fauquey 2, Suwaida 3, Al Majd 4. Won by: ¾, 1 ½, ¾. Time: 1:46.37. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
5th race: Beach Club (Ali al-Showeikh) 1, Arriga 2, Power Punch 3, Exodus 4. Won by: 2 ½, 1, 1 ½. Time: 1:53.25. Trained by: Zohair Moghsen. Owned by: Hussain Ali Bukanan
6th race: Substantiate (Gerald Avranche) 1, Girl Of Cadiz 2, Robbamaa 3, Mojave Desert 4. Won by: ¾, 1 ½, Nk. Time: 1:37.80. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Jassim Mohammed Al Ghazali and Sons
7th race: Alkazim (Salim Golam) 1, Walfa 2, Ghalaa 3, Mefraas 4. Won by: 4, Shd, ½. Time: 1:35.98. Trained by: Ahmed Kobeissi. Owned by: Mohammed Kazim Al Ansari and Sons
8th race: Raedah (Pier Convertino) 1, Mekhbatt 2, Al Ka’ed 3, Shujaa 4. Won by: 1 ¾, 6, 2. Time: 1:33.58. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
9th race: Al Sakab Al Rayyan (Marvin Suerland) 1, Baaria 2, Al Mazrooah 3, Al Naif Trade Mark 4. Won by: 1 ½, 3 ½, ½. Time: 1:56.83. Trained by: Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Hamad bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Attiya.
